Chapter 479: Qiu Tianyu

Pei Ye was indeed not in the Sword Academy.

After leaving the Imperial Academy, he entered the Yi-4 Sword Field. The debate in the school hall had made him lose interest, so he spent the entire dusk and night alone with his sword.

The new sword had six moves in total, which were "Cloud Cold Water Ripples, Flute Cold Tune Clear, Wounding Spirit Washing Eyes," and an additional true Qi technique: 【Sword Washing Water】.

Pei Ye had begun to discover that this kind of first-class sword transmission always had a deeper, upward-extending meaning. The intent within was not insufficient to support a superior intent-sword, but the sword-writer who had passed that stage chose to settle it as sword moves.

And in the connection between sword moves, whether it was as exquisite as the "Jade Jade Sword" or as naturally rounded as this sword, the entire sword was always perfect, expressing completeness, and never seeing loose edges.

Pei Ye only mastered the fourth move this night, not because he couldn't continue, but because 【Wounding Spirit】, 【Washing Eyes】, and 【Sword Washing Water】 were more like a single entity. They were sword moves and true Qi techniques, but at the same time, they were some kind of direction.

The last page of the sword manual said, "Writing carries the Dao, poetry conveys feelings, and the sword reaches the intent. In this place and at this time, this sword and this intent, meet with those who have feelings and know the sword."

That rough and casual copying and binding seemed to have a source, and it was no wonder it was difficult to learn and understand, and rarely asked about for many years. Because the sword-writer didn't originally intend to write a sword to be passed down through the ages, but like a poet climbing a height, just narrating feelings and conveying intent.

"First Moon North Rain," or perhaps it should be the name of a poem.

So, of course, it couldn't be understood by those who didn't have "feelings and know the sword." It didn't teach sword moves in detail at all—once you get this intent, the sword moves are just an outer form.

Pei Ye immersed himself in the cold and dashing artistic conception of this sword for a long time. When he stopped the sword, it was as if he had been soaked through by a cold rain, and his spirit was as clear as water.

He had indeed never had such a fitting sword-learning experience. Sitting quietly in the cold night, it was as if he had returned to that bright hall filled with swords on Shenren Peak, seeing a landscape from a single sword.

The woman undoubtedly knew he had such an ability, so she pointed this sword to him.

It was just that the last two moves and the true Qi technique still needed to be quietly understood and thought about carefully, and he still lacked some realm.

He threw all the remaining time into the third move of the Jade Jade, which was the sword of using life as a sword and attacking to the extreme.

It was strange to say that the other day, with a defensive sword like Yang Zhenbing's, Pei Ye had concentrated all his spirit on it, and his technique, logic, and heart had all reached the position they should have reached. The sword he exploded was also his strongest sword, but he could never grasp that trace of true intent. Now, with only him in the entire sword field, in the cold wind of late autumn and early winter, he had instead touched that feeling for a moment.

Pei Ye sat for two hours to lock it, but before he could get this true intent, the daylight had already fallen on his face.

It was indeed right in front of him, but Pei Ye didn't rush to grasp it, because the Mao hour had arrived, and this was the third day they had agreed upon.

Pei Ye picked up his sword and left the sword field. When he walked out of the Sword Academy, a blue constable uniform was already leaning against the street corner holding a saber.

Three days apart, Xie Chuantang's complexion was much better, her face clean, her hair neat, and there was a sense of agility about her.

Without pleasantries, Xie Chuantang's first sentence was serious and clean: "Magistrate Di found the location of the 'Winter Prison' yesterday. Northeast of the Cao Canal, west bank of the West Pool, Taiping Wharf. At the Si hour today, the garrison will exit the northwest gate of the Imperial City, arrive in two quarters, and search the entire area."

Pei Ye gripped his sword: "Are we going to the Jingzhao Prefecture to wait for orders now?"

"No need." Xie Chuantang turned around, untied the reins from the tree, and divided a horse to him. "Magistrate Di said that the two of them are enough to handle the Jingzhao Prefecture side. Let's go to the West Pool first. Qiu Tianyu is holding a banquet for guests at the Flying Mirror Tower. Let's go and watch him first as an advance station."

"Good."

Pei Ye flipped onto the horse, and the two rode side by side along the street toward the west. When they left this street, they brushed past a clear and noble carriage.

The West Pool was a vast and calm water area outside the Imperial City. Together with the East Pool beside Pingkang Ward, it was one of the two largest lakes in the Divine Capital, occupying the area of several wards. On a sunny day, one had to look to the extreme to see the opposite bank.

But unlike the romantic and unrestrained East Pool, the West Pool was often more elegant. Scholars and swordsmen who had not yet become famous gathered here, and common people often came to the lakeside for sightseeing after dinner at night.

The so-called East is noble and West is rich. The Xicheng had always been a place with more life, without so many powerful people and singing girls, and the lakeside was not always filled with fresh clothes and fast horses, fighting and brawling, appearing much more peaceful.

Of course, some people said that this was the territory controlled by the Taiping Cao Gang, and the three religions and nine streams didn't dare to run wild here.

Pei Ye and Xie Chuantang dismounted on the east bank here. Looking up, there was no prosperous noise in the early morning. Outside the weeping willow embankment by the lake, many pavilions and towers were built, and some extended into the lake. Along the street by the lake, there were many restaurants and merchants, and business seemed very prosperous.

"Look, those with Taiping bells hanging on the eaves are all businesses of the Cao Gang." Xie Chuantang pointed casually, led Pei Ye's horse, and tied it under the willow tree together. "I counted them a month ago, and they occupy a quarter of this street."

Pei Ye looked over. It was a palm-sized iron-cast bell with "Taiping" engraved in gold. To ordinary people, it was thought to be a fashionable decoration.

Then he looked toward the west bank, which was the location of the "Winter Prison" that Xie Chuantang mentioned.

But what blocked his gaze first was the prosperity of the south bank.

The Flying Mirror Tower, this tallest building by the lake, was like a tree growing in the water. At this moment, it stood alone, leaving a silhouette in the sky. At night, it would be covered with lamps and candles, reflecting into the lake like a giant sword quenched into the West Pool.

And at the hilt of this beautiful scene of the West Pool was a cluster of pavilions and towers. If there was a prosperous end to the tens of miles of embankment, it was there.

Half on the shore and half in the water, three of the "Thirteen Platforms of the Divine Capital" were here, and three of the "Nine Towers of the Xicheng" were also here. The literati and cultivators who gathered on them were often elegant and noble scholars and direct disciples of famous sects. Every day, countless people chanted and appreciated this style, starry nights, quiet lakes, and clear winds and high towers. Absolutely no one could see what dark crimes were hidden behind them.

Behind it was the largest business of the Taiping Cao Gang.

The Flying Mirror Tower was the end of the embankment street. Further west was a wide water area. That water area was somewhat deserted. There were no lamps or candles at night, and no ships crossing. People who gathered occasionally walked to the shore, but could only return in a boring way.

Because that water area separated the Cao Transport Hub. Far away, some huge ships could be seen docked on the west bank. Those were cargo ships that had opened from the Cao Canal.

The west bank of the West Pool and the loop of the Cao Canal surrounded a large piece of land, which was the "Taiping Wharf." The lake and the Cao Canal were connected in the south, so the entrance and exit of this wharf were only in the north. This was also the reason why it had always been like an invisibility in the Divine Capital.

Now the Flying Mirror Tower was blocking the "Divine Capital" and the "Taiping Wharf." Qiu Tianyu chose to set up a "Ten-Day Banquet" here. In addition to promoting his momentum, I am afraid he also had the meaning of personally watching over it. When Pei Ye thought of this point, he realized that this 【Taiping Partridge】 was not just like the rumors of a "generation of heroes," but I am afraid he was rough but detailed, and even his thoughts were subtle.

And looking at that small island from afar, I saw dense trees and willows, hidden buildings, and vague figures, but I couldn't see any abnormalities.

"Underground." Xie Chuantang withdrew her gaze and moved, walking along the lake toward the south bank. "After getting the news from Magistrate Di yesterday, I checked four Cao workers overnight, both new and old, and they all said there was no such a large area that people were not allowed to go to."

"But they said there were indeed carriages and processes that were not allowed to be touched. Sometimes when they were close, they were questioned and scolded." Xie Chuantang said, "I drew the layout on the island based on their description. There is indeed no building like a prison, but Magistrate Di is very firm, so we think it is underground."

"That is also reasonable."

"I originally planned to sneak in and see, but unfortunately the time was too tight."

"Also too dangerous."

Xie Chuantang smiled lightly, and only after a while did she say softly: "I'm just afraid that I don't even have the opportunity to take risks."

The two walked along the lake embankment and soon reached the end. Even in the early morning, there was still a flow of people here. And twenty zhang away from the shore, the Flying Mirror Tower stood on their heads.

The Taiping Cao Gang had already wrapped up this building for six days.

The so-called Great Banquet of the Divine Capital, as long as you are a friend of the Taiping Cao Gang, or you are willing to be a friend of the Taiping Cao Gang, you can step into this building. As long as you dare to leave your name, you can board the eighteenth floor and drink a glass of wine with the Great Dragon Head 【Taiping Partridge】.

The Great Dragon Head would record your name. Whether you are a distressed scholar or a newcomer wandering hero, from now on, the Taiping Cao Gang will give you a convenience when you wander in the Divine Capital.

For six days, people have been coming here in an endless stream, and the name of the Great Dragon Head has become more and more prosperous. Now, not long after the Mao hour, there were already shadows of people in the building again.

And that majestic figure was sitting in the wind on the top floor.

From here, I only saw a silhouette. Long hair was tied up and hung to the waist. Wide martial arts clothes covered the figure. The person sat cross-legged on the ground, and a long halberd of eighteen zhang stood straight beside him, black steel and gold blade, not shaking at all in the high wind.

That overlord-like build should use that overlord-like halberd. For several days, countless people who saw this motionless figure couldn't help but praise "hero."

Xie Chuantang and Pei Ye sat down in front of a breakfast shop by the lake. Xie Chuantang paid the money, saying it was to return the treat outside the prison that day. The noodles were served steaming in the morning wind.

"I have been investigating them for three days." Xie Chuantang lowered her head and swallowed a mouthful. "I used three faces to enter this building three times, but I didn't dare to walk to Qiu Tianyu's side. I also sneaked into two of their very important branch halls the night before, but the hall masters were not inside."

Pei Ye was silent for a moment, looking at the woman who had survived: "I should have been with you."

"Each has its own duties." Xie Chuantang said, "I am investigating the case when I put on this suit, and I also said I would investigate to the end. You are in the Sword Academy, and cultivation is a more important thing."

She was chewing the hot wontons in her mouth: "You can do my work, but I can't do your work."

Pei Ye didn't speak, and also filled his stomach.

"I mean," Xie Chuantang connected to the topic above, "so they might all be here."

"... What do you mean?"

"I'm not telling you, we are here to watch." Xie Chuantang lowered her head and gobbled up. "It's not just watching Qiu Tianyu alone."

She finished the bowl of wontons quickly and began to check the saber, looking at the young man seriously: "What I have done for three days is to figure out the entire Taiping Cao Gang."

"The advance station must determine the number, structure, and movement of the enemy in order to provide the latest and most correct information to the Gate Guard... Actually, I didn't want you to come, but Magistrate Di and Magistrate Li said that having you would be much safer, and I would be relatively safer." The woman smiled lightly. "So I am troubling you to be my bodyguard."

"It was originally a case I wanted to break." Pei Ye raised his eyes to look at the figure on the building again, like the first step.

He remembered the carefully designed assassination in the heavy prison. Behind it was a huge shadow that wanted to twist him to death.

That person knew he was alive, knew his origin, and knew he had come to the Divine Capital.

Pei Ye held the bowl and drank a few sips of soup, and also finished this quick breakfast.

Compared to hiding himself in fear, he naturally chose to pull out his sword and go up, tear off those shadows, and crush those majesties. It was not some assassination by a masked face after years of hidden cultivation, but in the first ten days of knowing each other, he gave him enough cold looking back.

Many times, those deepest hatreds, the memories engraved on the old man's body, the young man can only chew by himself.

"Then, what is their situation now?" Pei Ye looked at the small mountain-like figure on the building, like the first step. "Are the high-level members of the Taiping Cao Gang all inside?"

"Great Dragon Head Qiu Tianyu, Second Dragon Head Si Lianwen, Third Dragon Head Ji Xiong Hu, are all in the building." Xie Chuantang said in a low voice, "The four hall masters of North, South, West, and East, known as the 'Four Hengs of Taiping,' are also inside."

Then she turned her eyes: "You don't know Qiu Tianyu, do you?"

"Not clear."

"Qiu Tianyu is forty-eight years old this year, but he was already in the realm of the Black Clothes when he left his name in the jianghu of the Divine Capital." Xie Chuantang said, "At that time, the hundred wards of the Divine Capital were the world of the three gangs of 'Six Waters,' 'Xinghong,' and 'Nine-Section Branch,' fighting for food like evil dogs. Qiu Tianyu established the Taiping Cao Gang and used a halberd to fight for territory from the three sects street by street."

"Now the earliest famous battle that can be found is when he just entered the realm of the Body-Tuan eight years ago. He used a bamboo pole to fight three sect masters alone by the West Pool. It is said that there were two Body-Tuan and one Black Clothes." Xie Chuantang said, "In the three years that followed, he killed new sect masters, killed sect elders, killed noble guests, in short, his shots were concentrated in the few years when the Taiping Cao Gang had to stand firm. Later, the connection with the government became more stable, and he didn't make many shots. It has been three years since there was a record. This person's strength is unfathomable. The movement that must be watched today is his movement."

"I remember when I came, you said he was transferred from the north?"

"Correct. Lord Li gave me some records of his promotions in the Ministry of War. If he truly is that 'Wang Biehe,' then he has three major military achievements," Xie Chuantang summarized. "In his youth, he was a scout; in the northern wars, he intercepted and killed seven barbarians alone, earning two ranks of military merit. Later, as a cavalry captain, he broke a force of three hundred with fifty riders, killing enemies with great valor; he was promoted, earning three ranks of military merit. Still later, as a cavalry commandant, he held off three thousand with eight hundred for six days; he had strategy, was deployed, and earned three ranks of military merit."

Xie Chuantang said solemnly: "He was promoted to a fourth-rank military merit from the bottom all the way up. A person who came out of the battlefield like this will not be easy to deal with." ===== CHAPTER 480 =====